Hickory Stiff Tipped Flat Bow

[Don W]

This Hickory stave had two knots. One was easily put right in the middle of the handle, so no problem.  The second one was about 7″ from one end. This could be a problem. I didn’t want to make it that short, so I decided to make the tips stiff. First time with the stiff tip design.

The stave was clamped to a form green, and dried over a few months. It’s got a nice slight reflex, deflex.

About 55#@28″

[Kidder]

Nailed it! Nice job

[BowEd]

Nice work on that hickory.You've got an assembly line going there Don.Your making bows right and left.How does that hickory feel in the bow hand when shot compared to your long osage bow?
PS....Did you heat treat the hickory?

[Don W]

Nice work on that hickory.You've got an assembly line going there Don.Your making bows right and left.How does that hickory feel in the bow hand when shot compared to your long osage bow?
PS....Did you heat treat the hickory?

I didn't heat treat this bow. The reason it doesn't have a leather wrap on the handle was it just felt so good. For Me , there is just something about hickory. I'll definitely use Osage again if I can get it reasonable, but I don't understand the overall perception that it is that much better.

[Morgan]

Beautiful bow Don. I think that hickory would probably outshine Osage in an arid climate. Osage is incredibly tough, so is hickory. I think the only thing that separates them is their moisture resistance. After several hours shooting On a high humidity here, you will absolutely see a change in hickory and elm in early and late string tension. Not so much with Osage. With that said, I can go just about anywhere here and in a few minutes have a good hickory or elm sapling cut and peeled and ready to remove some wood. Can’t say the same for Osage. As far as making a bow out of them, I prefer to work with the white woods, it’s just easier.

[George Tsoukalas]

Dan, looks great. Nicely done. Jawge

[bradsmith2010]

make a hickory fence post, and a osage fence post,, put it in the ground for 50 years, then see which one will make a bow,, osage is just a bit more durable in harsh conditions,, but wont shoot better

[BowEd]

Nice work on that hickory.You've got an assembly line going there Don.Your making bows right and left.How does that hickory feel in the bow hand when shot compared to your long osage bow?
PS....Did you heat treat the hickory?

I didn't heat treat this bow. The reason it doesn't have a leather wrap on the handle was it just felt so good. For Me , there is just something about hickory. I'll definitely use Osage again if I can get it reasonable, but I don't understand the overall perception that it is that much better.

I meant how does the bow feel handshock wise from shooting.

[Don W]

No noticable handshock

[boomhowzer]

Such a hardy looking bow! Like a mule marching off into the sunset. I'd take that thing anywhere with me. How did you get the scorched/weathered look on the back?

[Don W]

How did you get the scorched/weathered look on the back?

Thanks. It's backed with rawhide and stained with Fiebing’s Leather Dye. Tru-oil over all.

[boomhowzer]

Backed with rawhide. Wow! It looks amazing!

[Allyn T]

That's my favorite bow you've made, looks great

[Parnell]

That is a very good looking bow, Don.  Tiller and finish.  That color looks great.